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Jury decides 2014 document found in Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid will

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

By ED WHITE (Associated Press)PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A document handwritten by singer Aretha Franklin and found in her couch after her 2018 death is a valid Michigan will, a jury said Tuesday, a critical turn in a dispute that has turned her sons against each other.It’s a victory for Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin whose lawyers had argued that papers dated 2014 should override a 2010 will that was discovered around the same time in a locked cabinet at the Queen of Soul’s home in suburban Detroit.The jury deliberated less than an hour after a brief trial that started Monday. After the verdict was read, Aretha Franklin’s grandchildren stepped forward from the first row to hug Kecalf and Edward.“I’m very, very happy. I just wanted my mother’s wishes to be adhered to,” Kecalf Franklin said. “We just want to exhale right now. It’s been a long five years for my family, my children.”Aretha Franklin did not leave behind a...

Ways to save money in New York City this summer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

Donald Wood | (TNS) TravelPulseFor travelers considering a trip to New York City this summer, there is plenty to do in the city that never sleeps. They’ll also be in good company: The city is on track to welcome 63.3 million visitors in 2023.New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, is spotlighting a selection of free and affordable experiences for visitors to enjoy this summer.“New York City offers something for everyone, no matter your interests, the length of your trip or your budget—there is more to see and do here than in virtually any other city in the world,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “During the summer months, NYC is buzzing with street festivals, outdoor dining and cultural offerings, in addition to beautiful parks, beaches and green space. We invite visitors to take advantage of the value of a summer vi...

Native American leaders visit site of archeological dig to find remains of boarding school students

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — Archeologists resumed digging Tuesday at the remote site of a former Native American boarding school in central Nebraska, searching for the remains of children who died there decades ago. The search for a hidden cemetery near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska gained renewed interest after the discovery of hundreds of children’s remains at other Native American boarding school sites across the U.S. and Canada since 2021, said Dave Williams, the state’s archeologist whose team is digging at the site.The team hasn’t found human remains yet, Williams said, but the dig only began on Monday and is expected to last through the week.Birds called into the sun- and wind-filled space as excavators worked within the confines of an orange fence and yellow caution tape. They sifted steadily through dirt and tossed water away while Native American leaders and community members watched intently from the sidelines.“I came today to witness the dig be...

Utah Supreme Court scrutinizes process that sliced state’s most Democrat-heavy district into 4

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether courts should allow the state’s Republican-majority Legislature to carve up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County into four congressional districts.The fight asks if state courts can evaluate whether district maps drawn by elected officials violate the state constitution and is the latest battle over how states draw such maps. It follows a recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling denying legislatures absolute power to do so.Utah — along with Kentucky, New Mexico, New York,Pennsylvania, Maryland and Alaska — is among the states in which Republicans and Democrats have battled over whether partisan gerrymandering violates the law and imperils people’s right to choose their representatives in a democracy.Utah differs from those other venues, however, because voters in 2018 approved an initiative creating an independent redistricting commission designed to ensure maps weren’t drawn to favor o...

Winnipeg police charge former fashion mogul Peter Nygard with sexual assault

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

WINNIPEG — Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard faces new charges of sexual assault and unlawful confinement after Manitoba justice officials sought a second opinion of the evidence outside his home province. Winnipeg police said a person came forward in 2020 with allegations about a sexual assault at the Nygard corporate headquarters in Manitoba’s capital in 1993.The 81-year-old was arrested Tuesday at the Toronto South Detention Centre, where he remains in custody for similar charges in Ontario.There were originally no charges laid in Manitoba, where Nygard had spent decades ensuring that everyone knew his name and his face. For years Nygard stores throughout Winnipeg were draped in photos of the mogul and he was given a key to the city in 2008.Winnipeg police have said they submitted eight cases for consideration by the Crown, but prosecutors decided not to lay charges. That decision drew ire in Nygard’s hometown, especially as police forces elsewhere in Canada laid charges.Nygard f...

Ukraine now has a path to NATO membership, but allies have not set out a timeline

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania — A stark exhibition of war photographs lines the walls of a tunnel on the way into the NATO leaders’ summit.Signs printed on shuttle buses read: “While you’re waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting for NATO membership.”Reminders of Russia’s war on the eastern European country are everywhere this week in Vilnius, Lithuania. Even in the flower beds. Rows of blue and yellow blooms outside the venue are arranged to match the Ukrainian flag.Ukraine’s president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, arrived in the Lithuanian capital Tuesday and was greeted like a rock star in a city park, where he spoke to a cheering crowd decked out in blue and yellow.But if he had hoped for the same warm welcome at the NATO leaders’ table, he was surely disappointed.The 31 member nations released a communique at the end of their first day of meetings that affirms their intent to allow Ukraine to join the military alliance, but falls far short of what Zelens...

Wisconsin boy killed in sawmill accident was doing work allowed by state law, records suggest

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy killed in an accident at a Wisconsin sawmill appears to have been doing work allowed by state child labor laws when he was injured, police records obtained Tuesday show.Michael Schuls was attempting to unjam a wood-stacking machine at Florence Hardwoods on June 29 when the conveyor belt he was standing on moved and caused him to become pinned in the machine, according to Florence County Sheriff’s Office reports obtained by The Associated Press. Schuls died in the hospital two days later.His death comes as lawmakers in several states, including Wisconsin, are embracing legislation to loosen child labor laws. States have passed measures to let children work in more hazardous occupations, for more hours on school nights and in expanded roles. Wisconsin Republicans back a proposal to allow children as young as 14 to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants.State and federal labor agencies are investigating the accident in northern Wisconsin to d...

North Carolina medical marijuana bill likely dead for this year, House speaker says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation that would legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes in North Carolina is probably dead for the rest of this year’s General Assembly session, House Speaker Tim Moore said Tuesday, citing opposition by many fellow Republicans in his chamber.A bill that would lay out the structure for patients with serious and life-ending illnesses to lawfully obtain cannabis and smoke or consume it passed the Senate by a wide margin over four months ago. But it has idled in the House ever since, save for a committee hearing on the measure in early June. House Republicans have debated the idea among themselves. Moore said he agreed with recent public comments from House Majority John Bell of Wayne County, who said in part there wasn’t enough support for the bill to advance further.Moore said there’s a rule within the House Republican Caucus that a majority of its members must be willing to vote for a bill on the House floor for it to be heard — ev...

Live Updates | Zelenskyy gets hero’s welcome in Lithuania’s capital as he arrives for NATO meeting

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania’s capital:What to know: — Turkey’s decision to end opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership boosts summit— Sweden’s rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership— What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia?— Ukraine, defense plans and Sweden’s membership top summit agenda——Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a hero’s welcome at a concert in Lithuania’s capital where he arrived Tuesday to meet with NATO leaders.Instead of going straight to the military alliance’s summit in Vilnius, Zelenskyy stopped in the city’s downtown where thousands of people had gathered for a concert organized by civil society groups in support of Ukraine.Zelenskyy stepped onto the stage with his wife to loud cheers. When he opened his speech with the Ukrainian national salute “Glory to Ukraine!” the audience delivered back the traditional Ukrainian response “Glory to ...

Ottawa could help health care with better international recruiting, premiers say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:00 GMT

WINNIPEG — Improving health care is not just a matter of money and transfers from Ottawa to the provinces, provincial leaders said at the annual premiers conference Tuesday. The federal government could help by streamlining recruitment of workers from abroad, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters in Winnipeg. “They are principally responsible when it comes to immigration and bringing people into the country, which is why they play a crucial role in that,” she said. “We’ve all been able to negotiate some arrangements that have allowed for us to be able to bring in new professionals. We’ve got (a memorandum of understanding) with the Philippines, for instance.”Smith added Ottawa could also help ensure that health-care workers can move seamlessly between provinces.Health care is one of the main topics at the three-day meeting this week.The premiers also met with health worker representatives.The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions put forwar...